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Two umpire signals that differ by one arm, and produce different entries in the scorebook.
Both arms out sideways is a wide; one arm out is a no-ball. Both add a run and both mean the ball is bowled again, but only a no-ball restricts how the batter can be dismissed from that delivery.
Count the arms: both out sideways is a wide, one out sideways is a no-ball. Both add a run and both mean the delivery is bowled again, but only a no-ball gives the batter a free hit in the limited-overs formats that use one.
Drawn from the visual attributes recorded for each symbol. Only traits the two records disagree about are listed.
| Trait | Wide signal (cricket) | No-ball signal (cricket) |
|---|---|---|
| Symmetry | vertical | none |
| Wide signal (cricket) | No-ball signal (cricket) | |
|---|---|---|
| Signal | Both arms horizontal | One arm horizontal |
| Why it was called | The ball passed out of the batter's reach | The delivery was illegal — usually overstepping |
| Runs added | One | One |
| Delivery re-bowled? | Yes | Yes |
| Dismissal restricted? | No | Yes — not bowled, caught, lbw or stumped |
| Recorded as | Wides | No-balls |
| Relationship (from Symbolwise's records) | Commonly confused with No-ball signal (cricket) — Count the arms: both out sideways is a wide, one out sideways is a no-ball. Both add a run and both mean the delivery is bowled again, but only a no-ball gives the batter a free hit in the limited-overs formats that use one. | Commonly confused with Wide signal (cricket) — One arm out is a no-ball; both arms out is a wide. |
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) · retrieved 2026-08-02
MCC has been the custodian of the Laws since 1787 and publishes them openly. Authoritative for the umpire's signals, which the Laws specify individually. Scorebook notation is a separate convention and is not defined by the Laws.
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-02
Tertiary reference. Cited for how a mark is written and read in ordinary practice, and for conventions no governing body issues. Never cited for a claim that a rule says something — the rulebooks below carry those.
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-02
Tertiary reference. Cited for how a mark is written and read in ordinary practice, and for conventions no governing body issues. Never cited for a claim that a rule says something — the rulebooks below carry those.
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